Chances are, you use at least a couple of gas-burning appliances in your home. Whether it’s a furnace, heater, or some other appliance, you probably rely on natural gas to keep part of your systems up and running. That’s all well and good, but it’s important that you be aware of the risks that it presents, as well. Read on to find out why it’s a good idea to install an earthquake emergency shutoff valve.
The Problem
Natural gas is highly combustible, which is kind of the point. It’s the reason that we use it to fuel so many of our home appliances instead of coal or oil. That also makes it really dangerous under the right circumstances, though. Gas leaks are a serious problem when they happen, and can easily cause widespread damage if the gas is ignited. A further issue is present here in California, where a strong enough earthquake in the right location can easily wrench a natural gas line open in your home.
There is, of course, a manual shutoff valve that can stop the flow of gas into your home during an emergency. However, the problem with that solution is that you have to be there to close the valve. If you don’t know where your gas shutoff valve is, or you’re not home when the leak happens, you won’t be able to shut down the leak as quickly as possible. That’s why you should install an earthquake emergency shutoff valve.
The Emergency Shutoff Valve
An earthquake shutoff valve monitors for signs of an earthquake in the vicinity. When one occurs, the valve will automatically activate and shut off all gas flow into the home until the line can be professionally checked. This ensures that, no matter what’s going on, a gas leak can’t threaten your home during an earthquake.
Saddleback Plumbing offers a full range of earthquake emergency shutoff valve services throughout Ladera Ranch, CA.